Epilogue Kameron
EPILOGUE: KAMERON
Three Years Later
It’s my actual favorite holiday of the year.
Thanksgiving is up there, and I’m thankful for everything in my life, and if I had to compare the food from Thanksgiving to Christmas to determine which holiday was better, Thanksgiving would win every single time.
But Christmas is my absolute favorite.
Having the house decorated with all the reds and greens, shopping for those you love and spending hours with your back aching as you wrap them, the coziness the lights from the tree illuminate, it’s just all my favorite.
Kris walks into the living room, carrying two large cups of steaming coffee as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer plays on low in the background. Titan lays next to the tree with his Christmas collar and a Santa hat with his ears sticking through the top on his head.
He’s chewing his bone, his very favorite toy that he’s gotten today.
I sit next to the tree by the fire, we’ve opened all of our gifts, but I have one more surprise for Kris.
Kris hands me a cup, and takes a seat next to me as he reaches over and pets Titan on the head. I take a sip, smiling to myself because it’s exactly how I like my coffee.
He never gets it wrong.
In the last three years, he’s never gotten it wrong. He surprises me with little things, all part of my love language. It’s true what they say, it’s the little things that matter.
“Man, I love the old Rudoph,” he tells me, lifting his eyes to the television.
I used to watch it all the time as a kid, and I still watch it quite often at Christmas time. Along with The Santa Clause, Jingle All The Way, and The Grinch. All staples in our home at Christmas.
“Me, too.” I sigh, glancing up at the screen.
“What time is Cora coming over?” he asks.
Normally, she goes to visit her parents for the holidays but since they retired she’s joining us this year instead. We normally have a big family dinner, but this year I wanted to do a family breakfast.
Everyone is coming. Cora, my parents, Kris’ mom and dad, their significant others, whoever it may be this time. Ruby and Kaleb are coming, with their sweet little girl, Emory.
“She should be here in about an hour, I told her the same time as everyone else.”
He nods, glancing back at the tree. “What’s that?” he asks.
I smile to myself as I watch him stretch out to grab the small box.
“It’s one last gift for you,” I tell him, urging him to open it.
“For me?” He smiles, lifting the lid off the box.
He pulls out a baseball, with a clear case and frowns, looking at me for an explanation, but I say nothing, only urging him to look more in the box. He pulls out a coffee mug, a onesie, and the pregnancy test.
His eyes meet mine, and I’m already crying. The shock on his face is instantly filled with love.
God, I love this man.
“Are you?” He shakes his head. “Are we?”
I nod, and he looks down at the cup in his hand.
The large print spells Dad on one side while the other spells Coach in his college colors. His eyes water, and I immediately move closer to him. Titan drops his bone, confused by the sudden reaction in his dad.
Kris is not a big emotional guy, but the idea of our baby bringing tears to his eyes makes me melt.
“I’m going to be a dad?” he asks, looking directly into my watery eyes.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“I’m ten weeks today,” I whisper. “We’re due July twenty-third.”
He smiles at me. “That’s baseball season.”
I laugh, unable to hold it in. “I know.”
“I’m going to be a dad,” he whispers, to himself this time. It’s like he’s trying to convince himself it’s true.
“I love you so much,” I remind him, and he drops everything back into the box and pulls me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me.
“I love you more. You and this baby.” His hand moves to my flat stomach. “You’re my entire world.”
We stare at each other, soaking in this moment, and listening to Rudolph on the tv. All I can think about is what it will be like next year at this time. With the same show on, and Kris holding out baby girl or boy. We’ll have more presents under the tree, with new ornaments to share.
“What’s the baseball for?” he asks, picking it back up from the box.
“When the baby is born, you can put his or her footprint on it.” His head tilts to the side, and my God. After all these years, I still have it bad for him. “Open the onesie.”
He releases me, holding it up in front of us and reads the writing.
“Dad’s Little Slugger.” He smirks at me, kisses my temple, and looks back at the onesie. “I love It.”
The episode of Rudolph ends and I pull myself to stand. “We need to get ready, everyone will be here shortly. We have some news to share.” Kris stands in front of me, his hands snaking around my back and resting on my ass. His favorite place.
“I can’t wait to tell the world, baby.” He kisses me as Titan chooses that exact moment to push between us. Kris laughs, while I rub behind his ear. “Is this why he’s been doing this lately? Because he’s protective of you two?”
“I guess so.” I smile down at Titan.
The doorbell rings, Titan barks, and I look at Kris. “What are the odds that the people in our family are actually early for once in their lives?”
“Seems the odds are in our favor.” I smile up at him. “For once. Hurry and pick your gift up and take it to the bedroom. I have separate gifts for everyone else for today to tell them.”
He rushes through the house, with Titan freaking out about why his dad is running like a crazy man while I head for the door.
When I yank it open, I’m shocked to see both of our parents on our porch, along with Kris’ brother and his family, and Cora pulling in.
“You’re all early?” I laugh, holding the door open as everyone files in.
“We’re all starving,” Kaleb jokes, dropping Emory to her feet as she tottles off in the direction of the bin of toys I keep here for her.
“There’s my favorite niece.” Kris comes out from the hall, and Emory’s face lights up.
Her hands go to his face as he scoops her up, and nuzzles his face in her neck making her giggle. I’m completely entranced by their connection, and it makes me fall for him more each time. I know that when it’s our baby, it’ll hit me even harder.
Cora walks up the sidewalk. “Hi.” She pulls me in for a hug.
“I’ve missed you,” I tell her.
Once Kris and I got married, I moved in with him and left my job in Birchwood. I was lucky enough to transfer to one of the local community centers here, doing the same work I did in Birchwood. The only thing that really sucked, was leaving my best friend.
“I’ve missed you more.” She steps inside. “Can we do presents now?”
“I second that,” Kris shouts, and everyone rears their heads like he’s lost his mind. Kris isn’t normally a big present person, he hates to be the center of attention in moments like this.
“Well, okay,” his mom agrees, and suddenly everyone is shuffling into our living room to find a spot.
“We have to go first,” Kris says, and everyone gives us a strange look.
“Great job, they’re onto us now,” I whisper, playfully smacking him. “Let me go get your gifts.” I grab the five boxes I’ve stashed.
Each one has a personalized ornament of a family of snowmen. Except Cora’s says Aunt with a small snowman that says Baby. Kris’ parents each have one that says Kris, Baby, Titan, Kameron, and either Grandma or Grandpa. My parents has our names and the same, and Kaleb and Ruby’s is the whole family.
I pass them out, then take my seat on Kris’ lap before he blurts the words, “Open already.”
Everyone flips the boxes open, and gasps are heard all through the room as shocked eyes reach ours. A few tears are shed, several squeals, and through it all, Kris has a hand on my belly, holding us both protectively against him.
He’s always been my Playful Kris, but I’m loving the Protective Kris too.
Merry Christmas!